Shirriah darted around trees in the direction of the massive lightning strike. Shooting a quick glance upwards she found the sky still clear. Well, that took the likelihood that it was a natural strike off the list. The shockwave had been powerful enough to reach Syrinx’s clearing and force the nymph to shield her so whatever had caused it was likely a high-level threat, Shirriah readied herself for a confrontation. Rapidly closing in on the area where she estimated the strike to have landed, she leaped through a fork in the trunk of a large maple and landed on an overgrown trail. The trail was heavily rutted and a short distance ahead from where she landed it forked two directions.

The main trail continued ahead in the direction of where she believed the strike had landed. A second smaller path curved off to the left leading back and around. It most likely headed towards one of the smaller villages along a part of the forest’s edge. Pausing to reorient herself Shirriah noticed signs of travel across the trail and knelt to examine the path. Hoofmarks and wagon prints overlapped in a jumble. A combination of the two led up the main trail. A second jumbled set of hoof prints led down the second. Several hours old, Shirriah noted. Rising to her feet she followed the tracks up the trail palming one of her daggers as she passed the second trail.

“What did you find?”

Spinning into a crouch at the sudden sound Shirriah reared her hand back in preparation to throw the dagger in it at the speaker as her other reached for a second blade. A puzzled Syrinx stood behind her on the trail Shirriah’s pack in hand. The nymph shot her a questioning glance as Shirriah sighed in relief, her arms dropping, the blade returning to its sheath.

“Don’t scare me like that. I have trouble hearing you when you move around in that form.”

“Oh sorry.” Syrinx looked down at her rippling body. “I forgot. Did you find anything?” She asked

“Nothing.” Shirriah pointed down at the trail.” I was about to follow these tracks I found to see what I could find.”

“Oh. It looked to me like you were just standing there thinking. I didn’t want to disturb you in case you were studying something but I’ve been standing here a while. ” Syrinx handed Shirriah’s pack towards her. “Here. I gathered up what scattered and brought it in case you needed it. I left that blanket where it was though.” Syrinx rubbed her arm apologetically as Shirriah took her pack and slung it over her shoulder.

“Thanks, Syrinx, that’s fine. I plan on camping there tonight anyways. Sorry, I didn’t hear you come up.”

The nymph fidgeted and looked around. “It’s fine. I finished clearing out a large portion of the ice so I’m here to help.”

Shirriah turned towards the trail again. “Well other than these tracks I haven’t seen much else. There about several hours old at most. Whoever made them may have caused the strike but they’re most likely a fair way away by now. We should still move with caution though.” Shirriah motioned up the trail with her free hand. “I was following the tracks up when you arrived.” Syrinx nodded as Shirriah turned up the trail again.

“Are you sure you’re all right,” Syrinx asked.

“Fine. Why?” Shirriah asked turning back.

“You’re just standing there again. You haven’t moved at all.”

“I’m fine. Syrinx. Let’s just find out what this disturbance is all about.” Shirriah turned heading up the trail again. Without warning two watery tendrils suddenly wrapped around her, pinning her arms to her sides and pulling her backward. Shirriah cried out in alarm.

“What are you doing?”

Pulling the struggling elf towards her Syrinx spun her around looking her in the eye, a note of alarm in her voice. “Something’s wrong here Shirriah.” She said “Every time you attempt to start up that trail you just stop and stand there with this look on your face.” Seeing confusion on the elf’s face Syrinx released her pushing past and walking up the trail. “Watch.”

Syrinx strode past the fork. “Every time you get to about her you…” The nymph’s body came to a dead halt her voice fading midsentence. Her raised foot lowered mid-step and she stood staring blankly up the path.

Shirriah’s confusion frown turned to alarm. “Syrinx?”

A shudder seemed to run through the nymph at Shirriah’s worried call and she looked back. “Watch. Something’s not right.” Lifting afoot to take another step the nymph froze again her foot lowering and going still.

Shirriah cursed as a realization struck her. “There’s a ward here.” She stepped forward before thinking better of it. “Syrinx come back. I see it now.” She called

The nymph turned back to the elf. “You need to...”

Shirriah cut her off before she could attempt to show her again. “Your right. There is something wrong here you showed me. Now please come back” Syrinx paused looking up the path before turning back.

“You see it.”

Shirriah nodded. “I do. Now please come back before you accidentally trigger the ward again.

Syrinx turned around and walked back towards her. “What is a ward?” she asked.

Hunting around the side of the trail Shirriah thought about how to best answer the nymph’s question.

“Wards are a type of barrier spell. Of the types I’ve read about the only ones I’ve encountered are intended for privacy. Simple ones that block sound, allowing those that are within them to talk without the fear of being overheard. There was a noble that my mother had me keep tabs on a couple of years back that loved to use them. They made my job a pain in the ass for a couple of weeks until I could find out a way to circumvent them.” She hefted the item of her hunt, a large rock, with her hand and reared back chucking it up the trail. The rock sailed over the point that Syrinx had been unable to pass and landed with a thud. “Well, it doesn’t seem to stop thrown objects,” Shirriah muttered filing the information away.

“How did you get around his wards then?” Syrinx asked picking up a rock herself and throwing it. It had the same effect as Shirriah’s. Shrugging at the result she followed Shirriah as she turned down the second trail being careful not to go past it.

“Well, it all depends on the ward in question. In most cases, they are fairly easy to disable so long as you know what you’re looking for. In the case of the noble, he had a small medallion that had been engraved with a trigger for erecting the ward. All he had to do was put some of his mana in it and it would raise it. Once I found this out all I had to do was a quick swap. One very convincing look-a-like later and presto, the next time he tried to use the ward nothing happened. I was there to hear everything that occurred and finished my job. It helped that he was about as smart as a fence post. I mean who doesn’t realize they’re not putting mana into something. It’s the first thing they teach you.”

Shirriah examined the tracks on the second trail as she continued. “The problem with this ward is that I have no idea what I’m looking for or how it operates. It acts as a barrier ward, stopping objects like us from passing through it. But then it allows other solid objects, like that rock to go right through it. We could attempt to go around it but I have no idea how far this ward extends off the path. We could walk right into it without meaning to. It unnerves me how neither of us realized we were caught in it. It simply felt like I was about to start walking up the trail.

Syrinx nodded in agreement staring at the rocks that they had thrown. “What do we do then?

“We know the strike landed up in that general direction and we have to pass this ward to get there.” Shirriah pointed down to the tracks she was examining on the second trail. “So from my guess whoever made these tracks traveled through the ward. The wagon tracks on the main trail go up but there are no tracks returning. I think they left the wagons where the trail leads. Hence the reason for the ward.”

“So we follow those that left and ask them how to get through the barrier.”

Shirriah nodded. “Most barrier wards have tokens that allow individuals through. If they are willing to give us one of them we can simply go through ourselves. If not then I’ll have to politely ask as a proxy of my mother for them to escort us through.”

“So we follow these tracks. Find whoever left and acquire they key along with them if possible.”

Shirriah nodded again. “That would be our best option. I don’t like pulling rank from my mother but I can’t investigate this call of aid from the forest or the strikes until we can get through the ward. But we need to be quick, if they make it out of the forest will never know.”

“Fast and quiet,” Syrinx nodded “got it.”

Shirriah looked up at the sky. “I also want to get back up here as soon as possible. I estimate we have a couple of hours before the sun starts to set and the longer we wait the less we will know.” With that Shirriah broke into a quick but silent run down the second trail Syrinx following several strides behind her.

A Half-hour of traveling later Shirriah, who had been keeping a close eye on the trail, suddenly stopped. Syrinx froze coming to a halt a safe distance behind her.

“What’s wrong? Is it another ward?”

Putting a finger to her lips Shirriah started moving down the trail again carefully checking it every so often. Motioning Syrinx towards her with a hand she quietly pointed to the ground with a whisper. “Another set of tracks.” Kneeling she brushed some debris from the trail revealing a large paw print next to the hoof prints. “I’ve been seeing this second set of tracks for the last couple of minutes.” She pointed at the paw print. It looks like A Dire wolf. And a big one.”

“They should not be this close to the edge of the forest,” Syrinx stated quietly a hard edge in her voice. “They know to stay in the deep.”

Shirriah resumed her pace albeit at a slightly slower speed than before. “It may be a straggler or outcast drifting in looking for an easy meal. I believe were tracking a group of four to five people so the number of people should scare it off.”

The hard edge did not leave Syrinx’s voice. “I don’t care what the reason is. They know to stay in the deeper parts of the forest. There is enough food there for the packs to share. I will not tolerate them this close to the edge. It is too much of a risk for myself.

“I know that but you have not been around for a while.” Shirriah reminded the nymph. “Things may have changed in your absence. They might think you have moved to another section.”

“Why they would think that I don’t know.” Syrinx stated “but I will ensure they are reminded that I am still here. I will not tolerate them in my part of the woods.”

Shirriah sighed at the statement but kept moving, her eyes on the trail. They had only traveled a short distance before she stopped to once again examine the trail. A multitude of large prints crisscrossed over the path. Shirriah cursed. Her day just kept getting better. “More Direwolf tracks. I count at least five different prints. It’s not a lone wolf.”

Syrinx’s body rippled in displeasure at Shirriah’s statement. “Please tell me it’s not a whole pack?”

Shirriah resumed moving. “I can’t tell for sure Syrinx. There is too much of an overlap with the tracks from the riders for me to get an exact number. I know for a fact there are at least several of them from the legible prints. Regardless, we need to find these riders fast. These wolves aren’t following them for no reason. ” Syrinx frowned Shirriah shot her a glance. “ I think they are hunting them.”

“Shit," Syrinx swore.

Shirriah nodded. “Shit, indeed.”

The trail narrowed, trees crowding in on either side, as it started to curve through the forest in a series of sweeping bends that had Shirriah toying with the blades on her belt as they rounded each one. The prospect of Dire wolves this close to the forest’s edge was unnerving. Shirriah fully expected the possibility to be jumped by at least one or two of the wolves. You couldn’t expect it. Not expecting it was how you got killed in WinderVal in the first place. At the very least they Would run into a loner skirting the fringes. She could handle that. While dire wolves were big you could normally beat them in a one on one fight so long as you managed to keep out of their bite. Once they locked on they did not let go.

Rounding another bend she checked the trail again. Still the same two sets of prints. She would have to inform the guild that there was a roaming group in the area so they could warn the surrounding villages. The wolves had been known to snatch small children from time to time. Though that had been when food was scarce. She glanced back at the obviously frustrated nymph. Syrinx hated it when there were roaming groups of mercenary searching through the woods. One of the reasons she made sure that the main packs stayed deep in the forest lest her small clearing is discovered and turned in to some group’s campsite. She valued her privacy and though she was extremely shy to unknown people she could still be spurred to action.

Rounding the next bend brought Shirriah back on track. The trail was a disaster, dirt was strewn around and deep gouges in the trail from where horses had reared and panicked. Where the trail curved out of sight a Dire wolf laid in a pool of its own blood. Shirriah’s knives were in her hands in less than a heartbeat.

“Be ready. They still may be some hanging around.”

Syrinx nodded one of her arms shaping into a deadly spike.

The dead wolf was massive, easily reaching Shirriah’s waist, its grey coat covered with dirt and dried blood. Its head had been caved in. A hoof to the face from one of the panicking horses was the most likely cause. Motioning for Syrinx stay vigilant and to stay put on the path Shirriah ghosted off the trail into the trees. Several silent strides in she found what she dreaded. Clumps of matted down vegetation. Silently counting them caused her grip to tighten on her blades. Thirteen flat spots where wolves had lain in wait. There were probably that many on the opposite side of the trail as well. This was not good at all. The wolves had lain in wait. As the first group had flushed the horses from behind these had ambushed the riders as they had rounded the bend. A coordinated assault. Pack tactics and from the looks of it, not a small one.

Quickly rejoining Syrinx, Shirriah motioned onward indicating that she would lead. Syrinx nodded confirming she would watch their rear and started scanning the trees behind them as Shirriah examined the trail. Other than the blood that was on and around the dead wolf there was very little for the number of tracks and wolves she had assumed had ambushed the riders. Checking that Syrinx was ready to follow behind her Shirriah rounded the bend in the trail wondering if the riders had made it out of the forest. The carnage on the trail in front of her made her realize she didn’t need to anymore.

Five massive draft horses’ were scattered along the trail. Their throats are torn apart. Their riders were in no better condition. Dried blood was everywhere on the trail and Shirriah wondered how she had not smelled the stench of it with how close they were.

Picking her way down the trail Shirriah swallowed the bile rising up in the back of her throat. The carcasses showed no sign of feasting but the human bodies were near unrecognizable from the damage the wolves had inflicted. Arms and legs had been marred or torn off and their faces were all but unrecognizable. From what she could see none of the men had any sort of weapons or were wearing any armor. The wolves’ razor-sharp teeth had shredded them with little effort. Shirriah walked down the trail doing her best to inspect the bodies waiting for something in the carnage to grab her attention. Why had none of the men been armed? It was suicidal to enter the forest without at least a bare minimum of protection. Though even the bare minimum would not have helped these men against what they went up against. Speed was the best way to escape a pack of Dire wolves and there was no way the men’s draft horses would have been able to last the run for the forest's border. Not after hauling whatever they had hauled all the way up here. The dead wolf around the corner had most likely been a lucky hit by one of the horses.

Reaching the other end of the trail Shirriah checked it again. It was littered with bloody paw prints. What caught her attention was the deep-set hoof prints of a large horse in a dead run. Somehow someone had made it out of the ambush. Turning to check on Syrinx Shirriah found her picking her way carefully through the bodies on the trail a large bundle of something building in her arms. “Someone made it out,” Shirriah called to her motioning towards the tracks as the nymph walked over.

“That’s good I guess.” Syrinx sighed, dropping the bundle at her feet as she reached her. “Are we going to keep going?”

Shirriah sheathed one of her knives “No Point. With what happened here I’m sure it would be a terrible idea to pursue the survivor. We have no guarantee that they will make it out of the forest and if we run into the wolves’ it would not end well for me. Hopefully, we should be able to find whatever enabled them to travel through the ward with the remains we have here.

Syrinx nodded. “I assume this confirms that this is a pack.”

At Shirriah’s nod, Syrinx’s body rippled in displeasure and frustration. “Then I am to expect more Mercenaries tramping through my woods.

Shirriah nodded again. “Once I inform the guild I would imagine so. Your clearing should be ok though. We are a fair distance from your home. She motioned to the bundle. “What are those?”

“All that the men had on them. They had No pouches or bags, not even a hidden purse. These cloaks are all that are left. They are in rough condition but most are still in a wearable piece.”

Shirriah bent over the bundle. “You’re sure that this is all that is left. There are no scrolls or tablets or coins with strange markings, no pieces of jewelry or any type of charm.”

Syrinx shook her head. “No the bodies had nothing except the clothes on their back and the boots on their feet. I checked those as well. Nothing.”

Pulling the bundle of cloth apart Shirriah pulled one of the cloaks out. She held the material up to the light. Scrutinizing it closely she frowned. “Well, we now have another problem to add to the list. These cloaks are of elven make.”

“So? Why is that a problem? Who cares who made them?” Syrinx asked.

“I do and that’s because I have to find the people who acquire and sell things like these. We rarely sell our weapons, armor or clothing to other people.” Shirriah fingered the material. “It’s a secret on how we craft them. Unfortunately, our secrecy makes products like these a high mark for thieves and smugglers who steal what they can get, selling it to the highest bidder.” Shirriah traced something on the fabric with her finger. “And that’s where my mother and I come in. I don’t recognize this weave though.”

Seeing Syrinx’s confusion Shirriah handed her the piece of cloak and held a second one up to the light. “Each elven family that deals in the crafting of the cloth has their own weave they work into it. Only we know what and where to look for it. Depending on who you are depending on who you get your cloth from. So there are certain weaves for those in the higher in rank than others. I just don’t recognize this weave. There also seems to be another material woven into this cloak as well. I’m not sure what it is. My mother would though.”

Shirriah looked back over the bodies on the trail. “But if this is all they had then how did they get through the ward? They had to have something to be able to pass through it.” Shirriah tossed the piece of the cloak back onto the bundle in frustration and pulled a length of small rope from her pack. Deftly tying a couple of knots into it she wrapped it around the bundle of cloaks making a makeshift sling. “I hate to just leave without finding out what’s up that trail. There are bodies involved now and if I wait I may never find out the cause. She started tying the bundle to a loop on her pack. “And I really don’t want to have to go and escort a mage all the way out here just to circumvent award.”

Syrinx stood looking back at the bodies thoughtfully. “Instead of a coin or scroll is it possible that the cloaks are the key to the Ward? They are the only thing that all of the bodies had in common and you did state that was one of the criteria.”

Shirriah paused mid knot. “I suppose it could be possible. I’m no engraver or a cloth weaver so I can’t say it not possible.”

“That is if the one that escaped didn’t manage to take all the keys from his acquaintances,” Syrinx interjected.

Shirriah shook her head “No. The rider would have had no time. The fact that the wolves were able to down five horses in such a quick span of time means that the assault was so sudden none of the horses had hardly any chance to bolt. The rider must have been near the front allowing the horse to slip the trap the second it sensed the wolves. He still may not make it out of the woods. It all depends on how his luck holds out.”

“So what do we do with my idea about the cloaks?”

Shirriah finished securing the bundle under her pack. “We go see if they are the key. If they’re not then I will have to leave immediately to get a mage from WinderVal. I just hope your idea is right. I have had to escort caravan’s home for the past three months and I am getting tired of putting up with some of the nobility around here. She took a quick look down the trail before picking her way through the carnage again. “Also we need to get out of here. The longer we stay the longer the more chance we have of getting jumped by any returning wolves.

“Don’t worry they won’t be around here long,” Syrinx stated. “First thing tomorrow I will be finding them and driving them back where they belong.”

Shirriah rounded the bend leaving the gruesome scene behind. “Try not to cause too much havoc running them out. We don’t need another flash flood to hit the surrounding villages again.” Shirriah broke into a jog up the trail. “

I’ll do my best.” Syrinx’s responded following.

The jog back was done in silence. There was a brief moment of alarm when an Ebony Doe dashed crossed their path. Its sudden appearance had Shirriah gripping her daggers and Syrinx’s head swiveling in expectation. Nothing followed the doe however and the two quickly continued on at a slightly increased pace.

Once they reached the intersection Shirriah was careful to turn to the path on the right as she knew it was clear of the ward. Syrinx followed suit. “How are we going to see if these cloaks are the key?” she asked as Shirriah dropped her pack to the ground. Untying the bundle Shirriah picked through them looking for the least bloodied one she could find.

“Well, I’m going to put one on and attempt to walk through the ward.”

Syrinx stared at her for a second in disbelieve. ”What! Why! Can’t you just throw another rock at it or something? What happens if you get yourself stuck in there again? What am I supposed to do?”

“Relax.” Shirriah pulled the cleanest cloak she could find from the pile and threw it over her shoulders. “This is the best way to see if these are the keys. I want you to wrap me with two of those watery tendrils of yours and if anything strange happens just yank me back.” Pulling the cloak’s hood up she turned to Syrinx with a serious look. “You ready.”

“I disapprove strongly with this idea,” Syrinx stated with a sigh as her arms twisted and lengthened, wrapping around Shirriah’s torso.

“I figured but when have I ever let that stop me.” Shirriah grinned at her before turning and sprinting up the path towards the ward. There was a sudden yank and her forward momentum was suddenly cut off as Syrinx suddenly yanked her backward. Landing on the path with a thud all breath shoved from her lungs she gasped for air. “Really should not have tried to run through it.” She wheezed at Syrinx’s concerned face.

“Sorry” the nymph apologized. “You startled me when you vanished like that. I yanked you back on reflex.”

Getting her breath back Shirriah looked up at her. “I disappeared?” Syrinx nodded. A smile crept across Shirriah’s face and she looked down at the cloak she wore in amazement. “So these are the keys!” Scrambling to her feet she started to walk up the trail again. “Count to sixty then pull me back she yelled over her shoulder to Syrinx. Without waiting to hear a response she focused her full attention on the trail. Ahead of where the rocks they had thrown and a short ways ahead of them were scuff marks where wagons had encountered some troublesome furrows. The trail also looked like it narrowed quickly and Shirriah was surprised that they had even managed to fit wagons down it. The tightening around her stomach was all the warning she got before she was unceremoniously hauled off her feet and dragged backward back down the trail.

“Do you know how unnerving it is to see my arms cut off in midair” Syrinx stated once she could see the elf again.

Shirriah walked over to where her pack was. “Not really. But if it makes you feel better the trail continues onwards as do the wagon tracks.” She rooted through the pile of cloaks before she found another mostly clean one and set it to the side tying the remainder up in the bundle. Tying the bundle back to her pack she swung it back onto her back and picked up the cloak. “You ready to go find out what this is all about.

Syrinx looked at the cloak in Shirriah’s hand as she slowly unwrapped her tendrils from around her waist. “Can you give me a sec? I can’t really put that on at the moment.” The tendrils formed back into hands as Syrinx closed her eyes in Concentration. The rippling of her skin stilled and it smoothed turning solid. The color turned from a soft translucent blue to a darker, oceanic, solid blue. Strands of white Hair pushed out from her scalp cascading around her back. When Syrinx opened her eyes they were a brilliant sea-green again.

“Were doing this in the flesh this time I see,” Shirriah said looking her up and down with a smile as she handed the cloak out towards her. “You forgot to add some clothes though. You May want to remember those for when you meet some more people. Not all are as accepting as I am.”

Syrinx took the cloak and threw it over her bare shoulders. “I told you I have no interest in meeting any more People. Your stories of adventures with your little band and the occasional odd tidbit here or there are enough for me. I am content to stay in my woods away from all those noisy humans. Besides the second I know I don’t have to wear this thing I’m going back to my pool. I feel so exposed out here like this.”

"Alright" Shirriah’s smile faded as she focused back on their present task. “You ready.” Syrinx nodded and they both started forward up the trail. Reaching the rocks they had thrown Syrinx paused looking back. Picking up the rock she had thrown she tossed it back down the trail.

“There. Now we’ll know the ward sits somewhere between these two stones.” She told Shirriah.

"Smart” Shirriah stated.

They continued onwards stepping over small ruts and ducking under low hanging branches. Shirriah kept a close eye on the trial while Syrinx constantly scanned the forest as it closed in around them. Without any warning, the two stepped out onto the edge of a large clearing.

Syrinx looked back at the wall of trees in confusion. Shirriah was more focused on the scene in the clearing, however. Two black wagons sat across from them flipped upside down, near the far edge of the clearing. The wagons Shirriah had been tracking were laying haphazardly to her left. They were in battered condition and it looked as if a giant gust of wind had lifted them up and rolled them across the ground. Which was exactly what Shirriah believed had happened. A massive flat disk of metal sat in the center of the clearing its interior littered with small piles of stone fragments and several cracked orbs.

“Why does the forest just end like that?” Syrinx asked. Shirriah did not answer walking towards the metal disk silently. Not receiving a response Syrinx followed after her. They reached the edge of it and Syrinx stared at the metal. “What is it?” The nymph lifted her foot to step onto the disk. Shirriah’s arm landed across her chest holding her advance.

“Don’t step inside,” Shirriah said quietly. “Whatever was summoned may still be inside.” She started to walk around the exterior of the disk.

“This is what a summoning looks like?” Syrinx stated in awe. “I always wondered from your stories.” She paused looking at Shirriah who was staring at the inside of the circle from the opposite side of the disk. “Aren’t Summoning’s…”

“Illegal.” Shirriah finished looking up at her. “Very. We’re talking, the council is going to get involved, illegal.” The elf paused at a small crater at the edge of the disk. “I am going to have to leave tonight I’m afraid. This can’t wait as the dire wolves can.”

Syrinx nodded reluctantly. “You’ll come back to see me soon though right.” At Shirriah’s nod, Syrinx sighed and looked around the clearing again. As she wandered away from the circle towards the curiously black wagons something near the edge of the clearing caught her eye. Changing her direction she headed towards it.

“Be careful not to disturb anything!” Shirriah called as she walked away.

Syrinx called back an affirmative at the same time the object she had her eyes on twitch. In only took a second for her to pull her true form back to her pond leaving a rippling look-alike behind in the clearing. Her arms turned to spears and she heard Shirriah behind her mutter some kind of curse as she ran around the disk towards her.

Syrinx covered the next several feet quickly and immediately paused at the form in front of her. An arm stuck out from the forest. Whatever was attached to the arm was not visible in the strangeness that was the forest’s edge. Syrinx reached out with her spear and wrapped it around the arm. Pulling the arm backward revealed a head of black hair topping a pale skinned face. Syrinx dragged the figure fully into view in the clearing as Shirriah reached her side.

“What the…” Shirriah muttered.

The Male, for they could both tell it was male, was seriously wounded. A massive burn twisted from his upper shoulder, down across his chest, stomach and across its left leg. Its right leg was a mangled mess of flesh, large sections of pale bone visible. Without hesitation, Syrinx spread her arms, the water hissing as it spread in a thin film over the man’s burns. Syrinx couldn’t feel a heartbeat.

Shirriah let out another curse. “Is he alive?”

Syrinx shook her head. “Not that I can tell.”

Shirriah pulled the sopping wet cloak out of Syrinx’s body. “I was hoping that whatever had made those footprints hadn’t made it out of the circle.”

“You think this was what the strikes were all about,” Syrinx asked.

Shirriah nodded as she covered the man with the cloak. “We’ll have to move the body under one of the wagons and see if we can’t tip the wagon to cover it. The mages are going to want to examine it and we can’t let it get eaten by scavengers.” Syrinx formed her water back into her arms and stood up as Shirriah began to walk towards the three damaged wagons. “I think I saw some saddles over here and I want to check them first before we move him.”

Shirriah walked towards where she had glimpsed the saddles in her run over to Syrinx. There were two of them lying on the ground. Checking over her shoulder she found Syrinx was dragging the body towards her. Shirriah’s vision suddenly tilted as she was thrown sideways the wagon next to her exploded into flames with a whoomph.

Syrinx’s body rippled from the sudden blast. Shirriah got unsteadily to her feet beating out a few tongues of flame on her clothes. She looked up to see the largest Direwolf she had ever seen barreling towards her. Her ears still ringing Shirriah pulled her knives realizing too late she had no room time to dodge the already airborne wolf. A column of water smashed into the wolf’s face knocking it off course.

The wolf hit the ground with a snarl and spun towards the now half-sized nymph. There was a glow between its teeth and it spat a lance of fire towards Syrinx before rushing Shirriah again.

Ready this time Shirriah deftly sidestepped the leap delivering a quick stab to it's side as the wolf soared by. Spinning around as soon as it hit the ground the wolf spat a second lance of fire towards her. Shirriah was already moving back towards Syrinx and easily avoided it. Flying by her the lance struck one of the black wagons the wagon immediately bursting into flames.

“Stabbed it but it didn’t do much.” Shirriah panted as she rejoined Syrinx. “Were leaving before any more arrive. I’ll grab the body, you keep your eyes on our new furry friend.”

Syrinx responded by launching a spear of water at the wolf. It was met with another lance of fire from the wolf’s maw. Syrinx’s eyes never left the wolf. “I’ve never seen a direwolf breath fire before” Syrinx stated as the wolf opened its maw a sphere of fire forming in front of it. Syrinx’s body dropped in size again as her arms melded together forming a shield. The ball of fire missed them completely splashing across the remainder of the black wagons setting them aflame.

“Uh-huh,” Shirriah replied more concerned about grabbing the body and leaving. “Syrinx Where is the body?”

Syrinx glanced back at the empty grass behind them. The wolf rushed them.

“Forget it” Shirriah grunted as Syrinx formed a number of small spikes on the front her shield launching them at the charging wolf. “They’ll have to make do with an eye witness account.” She quickly muttered the invocation for A Stride of the Wind spell before turning to Syrinx. “If you can pin him long enough for me to get a head start I’ll meet you back at your clearing. They won’t be able to touch us there.”

Syrinx nodded. “Go now!” Her shield collapsed as her body launched forward in a torrent of water. The wolf braked hard in an effort to dodge, darting to the side spewing a column of flames from its mouth. There was an explosion of steam as the column of water turned tracking the wolf who continued to attempt to evade it.

Shirriah was already on the move the grass rustling as she sprinted towards one of the flaming wagons. Her speed increased due to Stride of the Wind she did not even attempt to stop instead diving into a slide, she slid by the burning wagon and charged for the clearing’s edge. There was a second whoomph and she looked back to see the wolf covered in flames burning away the last of Syrinx’ torrent. Then she was in the forest again. “DireWolves definitely don’t light themselves on fire,” she stated to herself as she climbed the nearest tree. “Better take the scenic route.” The leafy branches rustled as she leaped off them and began to race through the treetops towards Syrinx’s clearing.